Momentum toy



Jan. 0, 1925- 1,523,720 E. A. REEVES MOMENTUM TOY Filed Aug. 21, 1923 Fatented Jan. 29, 1925.

UQTED ST EDWIN A. REEVES, OF MILFORD, CONNECTICUT.

I/IOMENTUIVI TOY.

Application filed August 21, 1923.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN A Rnnvns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milford, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in h Iomentum Toys, of which the following is av specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a momentum toy, having for its object, among other things, to provide a toy that may be propelled through inertia or momentum mechanism.

Among other aims and objects of the invention may be recited the provision of a toy of the character mentioned, with a view to compactness, in which the number of parts are few, the construction simple and the cost of production small.

The improvements in the details and arrangements of parts will be apparent from an inspection of the accompanying drawings in connection with the description hereinafter contained, and wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed for the purpose of imparting an understanding of the same.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved y;

Figure 2 is an elevation thereof; and

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the inertia or momentum wheel.

My improved toy is disclosed herein as being applied to a boat, although it is equally adapted to other forms of toys.

Referring to the drawings, in connection with which like reference characters refer to corresponding parts; 10 indicates the body of a boat which is preferably made of thin sheet metal; 11 the driving shaft which projects through the boat at both ends, having a propeller wheel. 12 thereon at one end under the stern, and a spool 13 fixed thereto at the bow end.

A collar 1 L on the shaft inside of the bow of the boat limits endwise movement thereof.

Fixed to the shaft inside the boat is the momentum or inertia wheel 15.

The toy is operated by winding a string or cord around the spool 13, then after placing the boat in the Water withdrawing the string or cord rapidly from the spool. This imparts a rapid movement to the shaft, the

Serial No. 658,486.

inertia or momentum Wheel 15, and the pro peller 12, which continues for an extended period after the string or cord is released from the spool and thereby providing means for propelling the boat through the water.

The shaft 11 is somewhat flexible, so that if the inertia or momentum wheel 15 is not exactly balanced the shaft will yield suiiiciently to permit. the wheel to rotate about its own axis and not that of the shaft 11. A steady, uniform motion for the boat, as well as a longer rotation of the shaft, is thus made possible.

This toy will travel through the water for a comparatively long distance at a high speed and is constructed with the minimum number of parts, all so designed and assenr bled that the cost of production is small.

Many obvious modifications and changes in the application of the device herein shown will present themselves to those versed in the art, and I would therefore have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction herein shown and described, but claim all that falls fairly within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as no r and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a toy; a shaft; a propeller fixed to one end thereof; an inertia or momentum wheel fixed thereto; and means for rotating said shaft, said shaft being sufficiently flexible to permit the wheel to rotate about its own axis if the axis of said shaft and inertia or momentum wheel are not coincident.

2. In a. toy; a body member; a shaft supported near its opposite ends in said body member and projecting therethrough at both ends; a. propeller fixed to the shaft at one end outside of said body member; a spool fixed thereto at the opposite end outside of the body; and an inertia or momentum wheel mounted on the shaft between the opposite ends of the body member, said shaft being sufficiently flexible to permit the inertia or momentum wheel to rotate about its own axis even though the latter is not coincident with the axis of said shaft.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature,

EDWIN A. REEVES. 

